Genesis 19: Lessons from God’s Judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah

Introduction: God’s judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah is one of the most controversial chapters in the Old Testament. Bible skeptics point to it to allege that the God of the Old Testament is different from the God of the New Testament. Some allege that He is wrathful in the Old Testament while graceful in the New Testament. Modern society has further declared same sex conduct a civil right, comparable to the civil rights given to blacks and women. To some, the contents of this chapter are nothing short of “hate speech.” Reading its contents out loud could get you fired, sued, and possibly prosecuted. Liberal theologians have tried to accommodate what is now considered to be politically correct. Some claim that God judged Sodom and Gomorrah because the people were inhospitable, not because of their same sex acts.

These views are all mistaken. Jesus cited many times the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah to warn that an even worse judgment is coming during the end times. This end time warning is further cited repeatedly throughout the Bible. The same God who judged Sodom and Gomorrah will one day judge the world. While it is true that one of Sodom and Gomorrah’s many sins was inhospitality, Jude clarifies that God ultimately judged them for going after “strange flesh.” God’s standards of morality are never popular. Jesus warns that the world will persecute those who follow Him. Jesus calls you to be His salt and light, even if it makes you unpopular. From this chapter, He reveals seven warnings about the end times for you to share with others. These include warnings against (1) spiritual self-centeredness; (2) spiritual blindness; (3) spiritual deafness; (4) spiritual procrastination; (5) spiritual dual mindedness; (6) the need for mankind to repent and accept Jesus in faith; and (7) the need for all to show gratitude for Jesus’ sacrifice.

First, Lot was the only man in Sodom willing to care for strangers. Centuries later, the prophet Ezekiel explained that the sins that Jerusalem shared with Sodom included self-centeredness in the forms of arrogance, gluttony, and failure to help the poor and needy (Ezek. 16:49-50). From this the Apostle Timothy reveals that people in the end times will be, among other things, lovers of themselves with no love for those in need (2 Tim. 3:2). Second, while in Sodom, all of the men demand to sodomize God’s angels. Centuries later, Jude explained that the men “indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, . . .” (Jude 1:7). To stop the men, the angels temporarily blinded them. From this, God reveals people during the end times will be “spiritually blind’ to God’s standards of morality. Third, after the angels warned Lot that they were about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot’s future sons-in-law refused to heed his warning to flee. From this, God warns that people during the end times will be “spiritually deaf” to God’s Word and Spirit. Fourth, when the moment of destruction came, Lot procrastinated in responding to the angels’ warnings. The angels had to grab his hand and drag him out. From this, God warns that people in the end times will be “spiritual procrastinators” in searching out the truth. Fifth, after being warned not to look back, Lot’s wife turned back to her home. God then judged her by turning her into salt. Jesus later cited Lot's wife for the proposition that a person must lose their life here to find it in heaven (Lk. 17:32-33). From her judgment, God warns that people of the end times will be “spiritually double minded.” Sixth, because of their wickedness, God judged Sodom and Gomorrah. Jesus repeatedly cited this destruction to warn that the judgment many will suffer during the end times will be even worse (Matt. 10:15; Lk. 17:29). Finally, Lot’s family failed to show gratitude for their salvation. Instead, they got drunk and had incest on two consecutive nights. Like Lot’s family, all have sinned. From this, God reveals that you should thank Jesus for being spared from eternal judgment.

1. Spiritual Self-Centeredness: People Will Live For Themselves. Gen. 19:1-3.

2. Spiritual Blindness: People Will be Blind to God’s Standards of Morality. Gen. 19:4-11.

3. Spiritual Deafness: People Will Be Deaf to God’s Word and Spirit. Gen. 19:12-14.

4. Spiritual Procrastination: People Will Delay in Responding to God. Gen. 19:15-22.

5. Spiritual Dual Mindedness: People Will Long For The World Over God. Gen. 19:23-26.

Albrecht Dürer 1471 – 1528 (Lot and his family flee from Sodom)1

6. Repent: God Will Ultimately Judge All Who Fail to Repent. Gen. 19:27-29.

7. Gratitude: Give Thanks for Christ’s Sacrifice, His Mercy, and His Grace. Gen. 19:30-38.

Antonio Bellucci 1654 – 1726 (Lot and his Daughters)2

Lucas van Leyden 1494 – 1533 (Lot and his Daughters)3